Wire fabric structural member



pmif. 15% E952 W. 5. GE ETAL WIRE FABRiC STRUCTURAL MEMBER Filed March 14, 1946 2 SHEETSSHEET l INVENTORS. WaH'Cr 5 Edge BY -A/fre0'J. (fie A f/ rn W. S. EDGE ET AL WIRE FABRIC STRUCTURAL "MEMBER AMER w i952 ZISHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed March 14, 1946 Patented Apr. 15, 1952 UNITED STATES vPATEN OFFICE 2,592,548 WIRE FABRIC STRUCTURAL MEMBER Walter S. Edge, Kansas City, Mo., and Alfred J. Edge, Jacksonville, Fla.

Application March 14, 1946, Serial No. 654,334

8 Claims.

and very light weight, which are capable of being used in a framed structure, in such a manner that said structure will have self contained connections for interior or exterior coverings or both, thus greatly facilitating the rapid erection of such a structure from our structural members.

Another object of our invention is to produce structural members that are adapted to produce a structural frame for a building or similar structure, providing maximum facility for the running of electrical conduits, pipes and other similar members, in the walls and floors of such a building.

It is another object of our invention to provide structural members which, when combined with cement, or stucco, or plaster, or similar material, or a concrete floor. will act with the same to carry stress as combination members, thereby greatly increasing the eiiiciency of the construction.

One of the principal advantages of our improved structural member is that the web system is more thoroughly braced in such structural members, increasing the eficiency over previously known forms of wire fabric structural members, and a particular advantage is that the improved structural members are able to carry the vertical shear more efficiently Without sacrificing any stiffness in the upper chords of joists or the compression members in studs made in accordance with our invention.

Another important advantage is that wire fab ric structural members made in accordance with our present invention are better able to carry heavy shears, particularly in the deeper joist sections, than previously known wire structural members of corresponding weight. Also under overload the wire structural members forming the subject matter of this invention, when used as a joist, will begin to yield by the buckling of compression diagonals near the ends, giving an ample warning of a dangerous condition, instead of the welds or wires breaking, making it possible usually for the joist or similar structural member,

after such bending has occurred, to be straightened out and become as good as new.

Among the advantages existing in our new and improved wire structural member are those in. volved in the manufacture thereof, which in-' clude the fact that the same can be manufactured in, fiat continuous sheets, and that suchflat continuous sheets can be manufactured from wire in coils by running the longitudinal Wires through .suitably designed apparatus, inwhi'ch one or more sets of parallel Wires are woven, to and iroon diagonal lines across the longitudinal wires and welded thereto where the same cross said longitudinal wires and each other, which will permit of highspeed of manufacture. In-,

stead of feeding the wire from coils. two sets of straight diagonally extending wires can be used,

the first set being, preferably, applied to the longitudinal wiresin one welding stage and. the second set in another.

Another advantage of our present invention is:

that the length of the unbraced members in the web system may be made'uniform and may be reduced economically to produce more efficient compression members. Also because of the closer spacing of the diagonal members in the Web system a joist can be cut to meet any condition encountered with less waste than in our previously developed structures, which resultsin an economy in the quantity of material under any given condition.

Other objects and advantages of our invention will appear as the description of the drawings proceeds. We desire to have it understood, however, that we do not intend to limit ourselvesto the particular details shown or described, except as defined in the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a hat welded fabric used to make a structural member made in accordance with our invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view through the, structural member shown in Fig. 2, taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 of a modified form of structural member made from such a fabric as shown in Fig. 1. v V

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of a slightly modified form of fiat welded fabric used to make a structural member made in accordance with our invention.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a structural member made from such a fabric as shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional View of a structural member U-shap-ed in cross section made from such a fabric.

Fig. 9 is a section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a section similar to Fig. 9 of a modified form of structural member made from the fabric shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of a web stiifening member for use in conjunction with our invention.

Fig. 12 is a side elevational view thereof.

Fig. 13 is a plan view of a keeper member used in connection with said web stiffening member.

Fig. 14 is a side elevation thereof, and

Fig. 15 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line [5-15 of Fig. 4.

Referring in detail to the drawings, in Fig. l is shown a flat welded wire fabric that we use in making joists in accordance with our invention. Said fabric comprises a pair of marginal longitudinal high tensile strength steel wires .28, which, preferably, have a tensile strength of from 120,000 to 180,000 pounds per square inch, and two inner longitudinal wires 29 of similar high tensile strength steel. Said fabric further comprises obliquely extending parallel wires disposed across the above referred to longitudinal wires, so arranged as to extend at two different oblique angles to the longitudinally extending wires. All of the obliquely extending wires,. prelerably, extendat an angle of about60 degrees to the .longi tudinally extending wires. While we have found that an angle of 60 degrees is most desirable, substantially as good results are obtainable if a slightly difierent angle is used. The parallelly arranged diagonally extending or obliquely extending wires are arranged in equally spaced relation, which results in a diamond pattern in the mesh that results from the intersectingobliquely extending wires.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5. inclusive, the obliquely extending wires are made up of a single series of eight parallel wires numbered to 27, inclusive. Said wires are first brought in parallelism to each other in regularly spaced relation at the proper angle to the longitudinally extending wires across said longitudinally extending wires, so as to intersect all said longitudinally extending wires, and are then all bent back on themselves at the same angle to the portions laid across said longitudinal wires and again brought across the longitudinally extending wires in parallelism and in regularly spaced relation to each other at an equal oblique angle thereto and at an angle to the lengths of the previously laid diagonally extending series. Said wires are then again bent on themselves at the same angle to again extend in parallelism to each other obliquely across the longitudinally extending wires and parallel to the first laid series of eight wires, and this bending back of the wires on themselves and laying the same across each other and across the longitudinally extending wires is continued as the longitudinal wires are advanced so that it may be said that the obliquely extending wires are woven back and forth as said longitudinal wires are advanced. As the wires advance through suitable apparatus for forming the fabric, the obliquely extending wires are welded to the longitudinally extending wires and tothe' obliquely extending wires, which the same intersect, so that every obliquely extending wire is welded to every other obliquely extending wire at the intersections thereof, and every obliquely extending wire is Welded to every longitudinally extending wire wherever such an obliquely extending wire intersects such a longitudinally extending wire.

There is a row' of intersections 30 of the diagonally extending wires on the center line of the fabric spaced equidistantly from the longitudinally extending wires 29. The bends in the wires where the angularity thereof is changed are indicated by the numeral 3| and these bends 3|, preferably, lie beyond the marginal longitudinally extending wires 28 so that the said marginal wires are spaced inwardly slightly from the actual margins of the fabric. The arrangement of longitudinal and obliquely or diagonally extending wires is such that the longitudinally extending wires 29 are .very effectively braced by the intersecting obliquely extending members welded to each other and to such longitudinally extending members. This is highly advantageous when the two wires 29 form the upper chord in a joist or similar structural member and are subjected to compression.

It will also be noted that the intersecting obliquely extending wires are spaced from each other where the same intersect the longitudinally extending wires 29, the next intersection of said obliquely extending wires to each other being at 60. which point of intersection is spaced slightly beyond the point of intersection 6| of said obliquely extending and longitudinally extending wires. This makes it easier to weld the obliquely extending wires to the longitudinally extending wires, as each obliquely extending wire is welded separately to such longitudinally extending wire.

- It will also be noted that the intersections 62 of the diagonally or obliquely extending wires with each other nearest the bends 3| are spaced from the marginal longitudinally extending wires 28 and that said bends are spaced from said wires 2850 that the intersections of the diagonally extending wires with the longitudinally extending marginal wires 28 are also separated from each other in a similar manner to that described in connection with the intersections of the obliquely extending wires and the longitudinally extending wires 29, which makes it easier to weld the obliquely extending wires to the longitudinally extending wires.

The triangular formations provided at the marginal portions of the fabric by means of the obliquely extending wires between the bends 3| and the longitudinally extending marginal wires 28 provide a very rigid and strong construction,.

and a strong connection between the web system comprising the obliquely extendin wires and said longitudinal wires, and will eliminate any distortion at this point under extreme stress. In addition' to this, the projecting bends 3i provide a means for connecting the two edges of the fabric together, or for securing or anchoring other members thereto. While only one other intermediate intersection 63 of the obliquely extending members is disclosed in Fig. 1; obviously the number of intersections between the longitudinally extending wires can be varied so as to'either increase or decrease the same as may be found desirable, it being, of course, understood that while reference is made to the use of eight oblique'ly extending wires to be laid in the fabric simultaneously, the" number thereof can be varied as may be found desirable to get the pattern that might be preferred. The number of diagonal wires and the spacing thereof may be varied in accordance with the weight of sections desired and the diameter of wire that may be found desirable or necessary for use in the diagonally extending members.

Structural members of various cross sectional shapes can be made from the fabric shown in Fig. 1. Thus a member that is U-shaped in cross section can be made therefrom, as shown in Fig. 3, the same being shown as being an inverted U- section. The section shown-in Fig. 3 may be obtained by cold forming the fabric shown in Fig. 1. This can be accomplished by bending the fabric shown in Fig. 1 so that the bends 64 in the obliquely extending members will lie just inwardly of the longitudinally extending members 29, whereby the transversely extending portion 65 of the inverted U-shaped member will be made up of the obliquely extending members lying between the two longitudinally extending members 29 with the intersections 30 thereof lying substantially in the middle of said transverse portion. The remainder of the fabric between the longitudinally extending wires 29 and the longitudinally extending wires 28 will form the leg portions 66 of said inverted U-shaped member with the bends 3| at the extremities of the legs.

Such a section as shown in Fig. 3 is suitable for a number of purposes, but greater rigidity can be obtained by bringing together the margins of the fabric to form a structural member substantially triangular in cross section, as shown in Fig. 4, this structural member being also shown in Fig. 2 in elevation. The structural member of the cross section shown in Fig. 4 can also be obtained by cold forming the fabric shown in Fig. 1. The marginal portions of the fabric can be joined to close the section by welding or otherwise fastening the bends 3| of the wires to each other, or by connecting the longitudinal wires 28 with each other by welding or otherwise. In Fig. 4 the longitudinally extending wires 28 are shown as being welded to each other to secure the fabric in such a position that there is a transversely extending portion 61, similar to the pre-- viously described portion 65, referred to in connection with Fig. 3, and inclined legs 68 that converge from the portion 61 to beyond the marginal longitudinally extending members 28.

Instead of welding or otherwise securing the longitudinally extendin marginal wires 28 to each other, as shown in Fig. 4, an additional longitudinal member 32 may be inserted between the projecting bends 3| beyond the marginal wires 28 and the extending portions of the diagonally extending wires welded thereto to form the closed, triangular in cross section, structural member shown in Fig. 5, which is otherwise of substantially the same character as that shown in Fig. 4.

One of the advantages of a structural member of the type shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5 is that it may be turned with the apex thereof downwardly, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, or reversed so as to have the apex thereof extend upwardly and serve as a beam substantially equally as well in either position. This would not be true of the structural member shown in Fig. 3, unless the wires 28 are relatively large in diameter with respect to the wires 29.

When the fabric shown in Fig. 1 is bent to form any one of the structural members shown in section in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the web portions-of said structural members will, in side elevation, appear as shown in Fig. 2. When such a member is to be used as a beam or joist to support vertical loads it has the advantage that the greatest length of unbraced members which make up the web system, is a long side of the diamond-shaped formation that exists between the intersections G0, 63 and 62. The length of the side of this diamond-shaped formation can readily be kept within allowable limits by proper arrangement of the diagonally extending members. On either side of the center of the span of such a beam one set of inclined or obliquely extending members is in compression, while the other set is in tension, and as a result the tension members brace the compression members most eifectively. This is accomplished by rigidly connecting all of the intersecting diagonally extending members forming the web portions to each other atall their intersections and to the longitudinal wires where these are intersected. The system of bracing the upper chord members 29 by means of the diagonally extending members intersecting at 30 along the longitudinal center line of such upper chord is highly effective and most desirable where the structural member is used as a simple beam without having a concrete slab associated therewith and anchored thereto, to brace the upper or compression chord of said beam.

Instead of making the flat welded fabric of a plurality of parallel wires woven back and forth as hereinbefore described, the fabric can be made of two sets of straight parallel wires, each set being arranged at an angle to the other set as the overlapping lengths of the eight parallel wires previously described. The obliquely or diagonally extending members so formed have the same relationship to longitudinally extending wire members of high tensile strength as the obliquely extending wires previously described. A fabric made up of such separate straight wires arranged in such parallel relationship and at such angles to each other and to the longitudinally extending wires is shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

Referring to Fig. 6, the fabric is shown as being provided with a pair of marginal longitudinally extendin wires 4! of high tensile strength, and a pair of inner longitudinal wires 48 of high tensile strength, these being arranged substantially in the same manner as the wires 28 and 29 shown in Fig. 1.

A series of parallel uniformly spaced straight wires 42 extending at an angle of substantially 60 degrees to the longitudinally extending wires 40 and 4|, are placed on the longitudinally extending wires and welded thereto. The wires 42 are of such a length that the same extend only very slightly beyond the outer marginal edges of the marginal wires H. A second set of straight parallel uniformly spaced wires 43, inclined at the same angle to the longitudinally extending wires as the wires 42, but in the opposite direction, are placed in uniformly spaced relation on the first mentioned set of wires 42 and are welded to the longitudinally extending wires 46 and 4!. The wires 43 are, preferably, longer than the wires 42 and extend extending wires 4| a substantial distance, said wires 43 all extending an equal distance beyond the marginal wires 4!. After the wires 43 have been put in position, said wires 43 are also welded to the wires 42 wherever the same intersect said wires 42.

The intersections 30 of the wires 42 and 43 beyond the marginal longitudinally tensile strength wires 40 .are onnthe .center.line ofithetfabric midway betweenthe "wires 40,- thus being similarlyarranged to the intersections 30. The intersections 1'60 in the fabric shown in Fig. 6 aresimilarly'spacecl from thelongitudinallyextending wires 40, as'are the intersections. from the wires 29, thusspacing the intersections 6| of said obliquely or diagonally extending wires and the longitudinally extending wires in such a manner'as to'facilitate welding of the diagonally extending wiresand the longitudinally extending wiresto each other, just asin the form of the invention shown in Fig. 1. The intersections -62 ofsaid wires 42 and-43 are similarlyspaced'from the marginal longitudinally extending wires 4| and, as shown, the :fabric is :provided with another set of intersections 83" between each longitudinal wire 4! iand eachlongitudinal wire '40. Of .course, the numberof intersections between the diagonally-extending wires provided between each wire 40 and each wire ii would be dependent .uponithe length of the wire members 42 and 43 and the spacing otsaid wires from each other, :as well'as thespacing of the longitudinally extending wires from each other, and can be varied as may be required to obtain the desired strength ofthe web portion of the structural member to be made from the fabric.

The ends of the longer wires 43 provide extending .end portions 44 on each thereof at each of the margins of the fabric and the points of intersection of the wires .42 and the wires43 are spaced from each other longitudinally of the marginal longitudinally'extending wires 4|, so as to space the welds 1| ioining'th'e wires 43 and 4| from the welds l2 joining the'wires 42 and 4 I, thus simplifying the welding operation considerably.

The resulting fabric made as shown in Fig. 6 is very similar to that made as shown in Fig. 1, except .for the marginal .portionsthereof, which, instead of having the triangular formations resulting fromthe bends at iii in the form of the invention shown in Fig. l, are provided merely with projectingstub ends of wires 44. Similar structural members can be made from the fabric shown in .Fig. 6 as from the fabric shown in Fig. 1, and the structural members will have similar characteristics.

Thus .in Fig. 8 is shown in transverse section a structural member formed from the fabric shown in Fig. 6,-the same being of invertedU- shape .in :cross section and having atransverse portion:65' corresponding to the transverse portion 55 .of the U-shaped in cross section member disclosed in Fig. 3, :and having the parallel leg portions 68' corresponding to .the leg portions 66 of the structural member shown in Fig. 3, the extremities of the legs 66 beyond the longitudinally extending members 4| being made up of the stub ends 44 of the wires 43. The structural member shown in Fig. 8 can be made in the same manner as the structural member shownin Fig. 3.

In Figs. 7 and 9 is shown a structural member of a closed triangular formation in cross section. Thestructural member shown in Figs. 7 and 9 can be formed from the fabric shown in Fig. 6 in a similar manner to that in which the structural member shown in Figs. 2 and 4 is formed from the fabric shown in Fig. 1, to provide the transversely extending portion 61' and the converging legs 58' corresponding to the portions 61 and and 68 of the structural member shown in Figs. 2 and 4. When the fabric is so formed to produce the structural member shown in Figs. '7- and 9,

the :projectingzend portions :44 .of the wires 43 will :cross each .otherxas shown at :13: in- Fig; 7. Said extensions 44 can be readily welded to each other at their points of crossing-l3 to secure the structural member in closed triangular form. Instead of welding the projecting ends 44 to each other as above described, the marginal longitudinally extending wires .4 coulclbe welded 'or otherwise secured to each otherv to hold the structural memberin closed triangular in cross section form.

While the fabric shown in Fig. -6 has beendescribed aboveas being made by first welding :the wires 42. to the longitudinally extending wires 49 and 4|,and th'en'the wires 43 to the longitudinally extending wires 40 and 4| and to'the wires 42, the fabric could be made bywelding the wires 42 and 43 to each other,. after having been placed in proper relative position, and :then welding the longitudinally extending wires tothe fabric thus formed.

Instead of securing the structural member shown in Figs. 7 and 9 in its closed triangular in cross section form by the above referred-t0 means, a longitudinally extending member 45 can be inserted between the projecting ends 44 and said ends welded thereto, in which case it is unnecessary to weld the wires 4| to eachother or the end portions .44 directly to each other. The same advantage exists in doing this as in providing the longitudinally extending high tensile strength member-32 in the form of .the invention shown in Fig. 5i

The structural members shown in Figs. 7, 9 and 10 have the same advantage over the structural members shown in Fig. 8, as the struc tural members shown in Figs.,2, land 5 have over the structural members shown in .Fig. 3. The projections 44 of the wires 43 provide ameans for easily fastening metal lath or other materials to the structural member, and if the structural member is reversed in position. from that shownin Figs. 9 and 10 with the projecting ends extending upwardly, the structural members can be used advantageously in combination with a reinforced concrete floor slab, thetprojections 44 then providing means for anchoring the concrete slab to the .steel joist.

.Itis preferred, to weld the looped or bent portions 3| of the wires together, to welding the longitudinally extending marginal members 28 directly to each other, .to .form the structural member that is triangular incross section, because this prevents the possibilityof distortion that more readily-occurs when the wires v28 are welded directly to each other. Similarly I the projecting ends 44 of the wires .in the-form of the invention shown in Fig. 6 .are, preferably, welded to each other to form a structural member triangular in cross section forthe same reason. Another advantage of this -form'of securement is that the wires 20, 2|, 22, 23, 24,15; 26, 21, 42 and 43 are relatively soft as compared with the high tensile strength longitudinally extending wires 28,29, 40 and 4|, and thus the welds are more readily made betweensuch wires than between wires that are harder and of higher tensile strength. Also it will be noted 'that in all cases such softer diagonally extending wires are welded to'the longitudinally extending harder higher tensile strength wires, making better welds than if such higher tensile strength wires are welded directly to each other.

Where a fabric such as that shown in Figs. 1 and 6 isusedto form a beamysuch .aslthat shown in Figs. 2 and 7 intended for carrying vertical loads, the same will tend to be weak at its ends where the fabric is cut off, as the diagonals will be interrupted. This would be true unless the ends thus resulting are anchored in masonry or reinforced in some manner. Strain gauge measurements of such beams have shown comparatively high stresses in the diagonal members at the ends thereof. We have provided a stiffening device for the ends of such a structural member used as a horizontal beam, which is shown as being applied thereto in Fig. 2 and is also shown in Fig. 4, and the detailed structure thereof in Figs. 11 to 15, inclusive.

The stiffening member referred to comprises a pair of vertically extending side members 85, which have a channel-shaped body portion and are provided with stiffening flanges 86 thereon. Each of said members 85 is also provided with a pair of cars 81, which are provided with inclined edges 98 that provide wedging surfaces, said inclined edges being spaced slightly from the top ends 89 of said stiffening members. An ear 90 also projects endwise beyond the body portion of each of the members 85 and the lower end of the channel-shaped body portion 85 is provided with a pair of ears 9| that project in the same direction as the ears 81, and which have a curved recess 92 therein to provide a hook formation at 93.

Said stiffening means further comprises a keeper plate 94, which is provided with a pair of openings 95 and with upwardly struck portions 96 extending from the openings toward the opposite ends of the keeper member.

In assembling the stiffening member with the beam the ears 9| are first placed in position on the lower chord members 28 with said chord members in the recesses 92, and the keeper plate 94% is assembled with the members 85 by passing the ears 90, which have been bent to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 12, through the open- Yings 95 into the recesses provided by the outstruck portions 99. Then the ears 8'! are placed under the upper chord members 29 with the wedging surfaces 88 in engagement with the under sides of said chord members, and a bolt 9'! is passed through the openings 98 in the members 95 and said members 85 are drawn toward each other by means of the bolt 91 and nut 99 to wedge the ears 8'! under the chord members 29. The parts will then be in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4. It will be obvious that the stiifening member can be placed readily in the position shown without any interference on the part of the wires forming the web portion of the beam.

The stiffening member rigidly supports the upper chords from the lower chords and braces the open end of the web system so that the strength of the joist is greatly increased at its end portions and the web stresses at the ends are reduced to normal, even though the diagonally extending wire members forming said web have been out in providing the beam of requisite length. Not only is the stiffening member capable of use at the end portions of a beam of this character, but frequently it is found desirable in residences where a joist, either with or without support below it, may have to carry a heavy concentrated load from above, for which the truss was not originally designed, under which such a stiiiening member may be installed at the points of application of such load and the unsatisfactory condition avoided.

What we claim is:

1. A metallic structural member having a pair of converging legs and a transverse portion connecting said legs, said member comprising a pair of longitudinal members spaced from each other, a second pair of longitudinal members spaced from said first pair, all said longitudinal members being parallel to each other, and obliquely extending members extending back and forth across said longitudinal members to provide two series of oblique members, the obliquely extending members of each series being, parallel to each other and the members of one series being inclined oppositely to the members ofthe other series relative to said longitudinal members, said obliquely extending members intersecting and crossing all said longitudinal members at points spaced longitudinally of said longitudinal 'members and being fixed thereto at said intersections and said obliquely extending members of one series intersecting the obliquely extending members of the other series and being fixed to each other at their intersections, each of said legs having a longitudinal member of said second pair adjacent its extremity and having one of said other longitudinal members adjacent-its junction with said transverse portion, said obliquely extending members including bends projecting beyond said second pair of longitudinal members at the ends of said legs and a longitudinally extending member secured to said bends to hold said last mentioned longitudinal members in side by side relation to form a structural member of closed triangular cross section.

2. A metallic structural member comprising a body portion of wire fabric having parallel marginal longitudinal members, inner parallel longitudinal members, and members extending at opposite oblique angles to and intersecting all said longitudinal members, portions of said obliquely extending members extending beyond said marginal longitudinal members, said obliquely extending portions lying in two sets of parallel paths and intersecting each other at points between each of said marginal members and each of said inner members, and intersecting each of said marginal members at longitudinally spaced points and said inner members at longitudinally spaced points, the intersections between said marginal and inner longitudinal members including intersections adjacent said longitudinal members, said members being secured to each other at all said intersections, said structural members comprising a transverse portion lying between said inner longitudinal members and converging legs lying between said inner members and marginal portions, and a longitudinal member secured to said extensions of said obliquely extending members to securesaid legs to each other.

3. A wire fabric structural member having a transverse portion and a pair of converging legs extending therefrom, the wire fabric body portion of said member comprising a pair of marginal longitudinal members adjacent but spaced from the convergent extremities of said legs and a pair of inner longitudinal members at the junctions of said legs and transverse portion, all said longitudinal members being parallel to each other, and obliquely extending members intersecting all said longitudinal members, saidv obliquely extending members comprising a set of parallel members extending at a predetermined oblique angle to said longitudinal members and a set of parallel members extending at the opposite oblique angle to said' lon itudinal members; each obliquely extending member of one of said sets intersecting an obliquely extending member-of the other set in each of said legs at a point spaced-from the inner longitudinal member-therein and another obliquely extending member-ofthe other set at a point spaced from the marginal longitudinal member therein, the obliquelyextending members of one of said sets intersecting the longitudinal members in spaced relationto-the intersection of the members of the other of said sets with said longitudinal members; all said members being welded to each otherat' all said intersections to provide a series of-triangular bracing structures in each of said legsuniformly spaced along each of saidlongitudinalmembers, the series of triangular structuresalong;onelongitudinalmember in each leg belng' spaced from the series of triangular structures along the other longitudinal member in said leg, each member of one oblique set intersecting and being welded to a member of the other-oblique set in said transverse portion and forming triangular bracing structures with said inner'longitudinal members alternating with said triangular bracing structures therealong in said legs, and means interposed between the converging extremities of said legs and welded thereto to" secure said legs to each other.

4. *A wire fabric structural member having a transverse'portion and a pair of converging legs extending therefrom, the wire fabric body portion-of said member comprising a pair of marginal longitudinalmembers adjacent but spaced fromthe convergent extremities of saidlegs andap airof-innerlongitudinal members atthe junctionspf said legs and transverse portion, allsaid l'ongitudinal members being parallel to each other, and obliquely extending members intersecting all said longitudinal members, said obliquely extending: members comprising a set of parallel members'extending at a predetermined oblique angle? to'said longitudinal members and a, set of para-Hermembers extending at the opposite oblique angleto said longitudinal members, each obliquely extending member of one of said sets intersecting an obliquely extending member, of the othersetin each of said legs at a point spaced fromtheinnerlongitudinal member therein and another-obliquely extending member of the other set at-apoint spaced from the marginal longitudinal member'therein, the obliquely extending members of one of said sets intersecting the longitudinal members in spaced relation to the intersection of the members-of the other of said sets with said longitudinal members, all said members being welded toeach other at all said intersections to provide a series of triangular bracing structures in each of said legs uniformly spaced along each of said longitudinal members, the series of triangular structures along the one longitudinal member in each leg being spaced from the series of triangular structures along the other longitudinal member in said leg, each member of oneoblique set intersecting and being weldedto: a member of the other obliqu set in saidg transverse portion and forming triangular bracing structures with said inner longitudinal members alternating with said triangular bracing structures therealong in said legs, the marginal.,longitudinal. members, being welded to each other to secure said legs to each other.

5.I,A w ire. fabric structural member having a transverse portion. and a pair of converging legs extending therefrom, the Wire fabric body portion of said member comprising a pair of marginal longitudinal members adjacent but spaced from the convergent extremities of said legs and a pair ofinner longitudinal members at the junctions of said legs and transverse portion, all said longitudinal members being parallel to each other, and obliquely extending members intersect ing and extending across all said longitudinal members, said obliquely extending members comprising a set of parallel members extending at a predetermined oblique angle to said longitudinal members and a set of parallel members extending at the opposite oblique angle to said longitudinal members, each obliquely extending member of" one of said sets intersecting an obliquely extending; member ofthe other set in each of said legs at a point spaced from the inner longitudinal member therein and another obliquely extending member-of the other set at a point spaced from the marginal longitudinal member therein, the obliquely extending members of one of said sets intersecting the longitudinal members in spaced relation to the intersection of the members of the'other of said sets with said longitudinal members, all said members beingwelded to each other at all said intersections to provide a series of triangular bracing structures in each of said legs uniformly spaced along eachof said longitudinal members, the series of triangular structures along the one longitudinal member in each leg being spaced from the series of triangular structures along theother'longitudinal member in said leg, each memberof one oblique set intersecting and being welded to a member of the other oblique set in said transverse portion and forming triangular bracingstructures with said inner longitudinalmembers alternating with said triangular bracing structures therealong in said legs, and means interposed between the converging extremities of said legs and welded thereto to se cure said legs to each other.

6. A wire fabric structural member having a transverse portion and a pair of converging legs extending therefrom, the wire-fabric body portion of said member-comprising a pair of marginal longitudinal members adjacent but spaced from the convergent extremities of said legs and a pair of inner longitudinal members at the junctions of said legs and transverse portion, all said longitudinal members being parallel to each other, and obliquely extending members intersecting all said longitudinal members, said obliquely extending members comprising a set of parallel members extending at a predetermined oblique angl to said longitudinalmembers and a set of parallel members extending at the opposite oblique angle to said longitudinal members, the members of the one set. being connected with the members of the other set by means of bends extending beyondsaid marginal longitudinal members, each obliquely extending member of one of said sets intersecting an obliquely extending member 01" the other set in each of said legs at a point spaced from the inner longitudinal member therein and another obliquely extending member of the other set at a point spaced from the marginal longitudinal member therein, the obliquely extending members of one of said sets intersecting the longitudinal members in spaced relation to the intersection of the members of the other of said sets with said longitudinal members, all. said members being Welded to each other at all said intersections to provide a series of triangular bracing structures in each of said legs uniformly spaced along each of said longitudinal members,

the series of triangular structures along the one longitudinal member in each leg being spaced from the series of triangular structures along the other longitudinal member in said leg, each member of one oblique set intersecting and being welded to a member of the other oblique set in said transverse portion and forming triangular bracing structures with said inner longitudinal members alternating with said triangular bracing structures therealong in said legs, and means interposed between the converging extremities of said legs and Welded thereto to secure said legs to each other.

'7. A wire fabric structural member having a transverse portion and a pair of converging legs extending therefrom, the wire fabric body portion of said member comprising a pair of marginal longitudinal members adjacent but spaced from the convergent extremities of said legs and a pair of inner longitudinal members at the junctions of said legs and transverse portion, all said longitudinal members being parallel to each other, and obliquely extending members intersecting all said longitudinal members, said obliquely extending members comprising a set of parallel members extending at a predetermined oblique angle to said longitudinal members and a set of parallel members extending at the opposite oblique angle to said longitudinal members, each obliquely extending member of one of said sets intersecting an obliquely extending member of the other set in each of said legs at a point spaced from the inner longitudinal member therein and another obliquely extending member of the other set at a point spaced from the marginal longitudinal member therein, the obliquely extending members of one of said sets intersecting the longitudinal members in spaced relation to the intersection of the members of the other of said sets with said longitudinal members, all said members being welded to each other at all said intersections to provide a series of triangular bracing structures in each of said legs uniformly spaced along each of said longitudinal members, the series of triangular structures along the one longitudinal member in each leg being spaced from the series of triangular structures along the other longitudinal member in said leg, each member of one oblique set intersecting and being welded to a member of the other oblique set in said transverse portion and forming triangular bracing structures with said inner longitudinal members alternating with said triangular bracing structures therealong in said legs, the members of one of said sets having terminal portions extending beyond said marginal longitudinal wires, and means mounted between said terminal portions and welded thereto to secure said legs to each other.

8. The combination with a wire fabric structural member having a transverse portion and a pair of converging legs providing a structural member of triangular cross section having a pair of upper longitudinal chord wires secured near the junctions of said transverse portion and said legs and a lower pair of longitudinal chord wires secured near the extremities of said legs, of web stiffening means comprising a pair of flanged members each having hook means adjacent one end thereof engaging one of said lower chord wires, and wedging means engaging the corresponding upper chord wire, a member connecting said flanged members adjacent said ends having said hook means, and clamping means connecting said members near said wedging means.

WALTER S. EDGE. ALFRED J. EDGE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 

